Caps for gasoline or similar tanks for automobiles, trucks, or the like



July 2, 1957 KOPP R. L. 2,797,841 CAPS FOR GASOLINE 0R SIMILAR TANKS FOR 7 AUTOMOB s, TRUCKS, OR THE LIKE ed June 2, 1955 INVENTOR.

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May/$7 W United States Patent Office 2,797,841 Patented July 2, 1957 CAPS FOR GASOLINE OR SIMILAR TANKS FOR AUTOMOBILES, TRUCKS, OR THE LIKE Robert L. Kopp, Aspen, Coio.

Application June 2, 1955, Serial No. 512,669

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-40) This invention relates to improvements in caps for gasoline or similar tanks for automobiles, trucks, or the like.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved construction of cap for gasoline tanks which will embody in its construction a high powered magnet and which will serve in use to hold the cap on a selected metal surface of the car when the gasoline tank is being filled at a filling station.

The cap of this invention is so designed as to weight and holding power of the magnet that it will not accidentally fall from the surface of the car on which it is placed even though the car is in motion, with the result that if the attendant forgets to replace the cap, it will not be lost but will be held in association with the car so as to be available for replacement when the omission has been discovered.

It is an object of this invention to provide an eflicient and satisfactory cap for gasoline or similar tanks which will serve to satisfactorily close and seal the tank in the usual manner and at the same time embody in its construction a magnet of sufficient intensity to hold the cap against accidental displacement when placed upon any selected metallic surface, such as thesurface of an automobile bumper, fender, or the like.

It is an object of one form of this invention to provide a cap for gasoline or similar tanks of lighter weight than the usual metal cap so as to reduce liability of accidental displacement and in effect give greater holding power to a magnet of selected force or intensity while at the same time providing adequate strength for efiicient and long service.

The cap of this invention may be employed for closing radiator spouts, or any other tank or container.

This invention may be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, showing a cap of a gasoline or similar tank constructed in accordance with this invent-ion.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the cap shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l of a modified construction of this invention.

By referring to the drawing, it will be noted that the cap shown in Fig. 1 is composed of a metallic cap-like member of usual construction to which is secured an inner, annular member 11 equipped with locking tabs 12-12 on opposite sides thereof. The inner annular member may be secured to the outer cap by welding or other suitable method of attachment along the contacting surfaces represented at 13.

Surrounding the annular member 11 and in engagement with the cap body 10 is a washer member 14 of cork or other suitable material of conventional construction for engaging the lip of the tank spout for effecting a sealing engagement therewith.

Secured to the inner surface of the annular member 11 is a magnet 15 of high magnetic intensity, such as an Alnico magnet. Preferably, the construction of the magnet is such that it extends downwardly from the inner surface of the cap so that its under face is below the edge 16 of the main cap body 10. In consequence, whenever the cap is placed face downwardly in engagement with a suitable metal surface, it will be magnetically held on the surface of the part on which it is placed.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the main cap body 20 is preferably of plastic, such as any of the well known synthetic resins suitable for this type of use. The material selected should have suflicient strength to serve the mechanical function of a cap for a tank of the type referred to, and at the same time provide minimum weight. The cap is preferably molded and, as molded, embodies in its central portion an enlarged projection 21 in the interior of which is embedded a high powered magnet 22. Also embedded within the cap is a suitable sealing washer 23 of cork or other similar material of conventional construction, and a locking ring 24 also of conventional construction.

The advantages of a cap of the type here illustrated are that it is of lighter weight and thus is less apt to be accidentally displaced when it is held by the magnet on a metallic surface of the car. A further feature of this form of the invention is that the magnet 22 is completely encased in resinous material and, in consequence, the surface of the car against which the cap is placed is protected by the relatively smooth resin against scratching or damage that would otherwise be likely to occur from the direct contact of the magnet itself. The layer of resin overlying the face of the magnet can be made quite thin or of any desired thickness that conditions in operation may dictate.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing disclosure that this invention provides a new and useful cap construction for closing the openings of gasoline, radiator, or similar tanks, and which can be placed on any suitable metallic surface for magnetic engagement therewith without the danger of the same being accidentally displaced by a jarring or other motion of the car or object.

It should also be understood that the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3 minimizes the danger of accidental fire when the closing cap is used as a cover for the filling spout of gasoline tanks such as those employed on automobiles, trucks, and the like. This increased safety results from the fact that the cap body 20 is made of plastic which minimizes the chances of metal to metal contact that might cause sparking. Furthermore, the magnet is likewise covered with plastic, which permits all of the advantages resulting from the holding action of the magnet without presenting the magnet surface in any exposed condition such as might cause unwanted sparking.

What is claimed is:

1. A closing cap of the character described, comprising a cover portion adapted to overlie and close a container opening, manually releasable fastening means mounted on the underside of said cover portion adapted to releasably engage cooperating parts on said container and to hold said cover portion in closing association with said opening, a magnet mounted on the underside of said cover portion, a housing of synthetic resin enclosing the magnet, said housing comprising a thin layer on the underside of the magnet and having a surface adapted for contact with a magnetizable metal surface and, when in such contact, magnetically to hold said cap on said surface with sufficient force to avoid accidental or unwanted displacement thereof.

2. A closing cap of the character described, comprising a cover portion adapted to overlie and close a container opening, said cover portion being formed of molded plastic, manually releasable fastening means mounted on the underside of said cover portion adapted to releasably engage cooperating parts on said container and to hold said cover portion in closing association with said opening, a plastic hub extending downwardly from the cover portion within the releasable fastening means and extend- 5 ing beyond said means and a magnet housed within the plastic hub, said hub having a surface adapted for contact with a magnetizable metal surface and, when in such contact, magnetically to hold said cap on said surface with suflicient force to avoid accidental or unwanted 10 displacement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Henderson Sept. 6,

Lookholder J an. 21,

Leslie Dec. 7,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 7, 

